Massaging and stretching machine



Dec. 19, 1950 R. P. FISHER ErAL MASSAG-ING AND STRETCHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 10, 1948 Patented Dec. 19, 1950 MASSAGING AND STRETCHING MACHINE Robert P. Fisher, Los Angeles, and John P. Geiger, Montrose, Calif.

Application January 10, 1948 Serial No. 1,587

This invention relates to massaging and stretching machines, and more particularly to a machine or table upon which the human body can lie and which can be power yoperated for the purpose of massaging the back and spine, and which can at the same time be connected to the feet land to the head for intermittently applying a stretching action and treatment to the body.

Among the salient objects of the invention are: to provide a machine or table of the character referred to which is simple, practical and econonomical and which has certain adjustments to adapt it to varying intensity both` in the massaging action and in the stretching action applied to the body; to provide a machine in the form of a table with the operating members and elements on the top thereof and through the top thereof, and with the power and operating mechanism enclosed therein, under the top.

vIn order to explain our invention, we have shown on the accompanying sheet of drawings one practical embodiment thereof which we will now describe:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View through a massaging and stretching table embodying our invention, with a human body indicated thereon in light broken lines;

Figures 2 to 6 inclusive, are sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines 2 2, 3 3, 4 4, 5 5 and 6 6, on Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the table structure of our invention can be of any desired type or size and of any ornamentation or streamlined design. For the purposes of this application, we have shown a simple table top` 1, with supporting sides and ends, 8, 8, and 9, 9 and base I0, somewhat in the form of a box or cabinet, with a slot-like opening II in the top 1, extending lengthwise thereof, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3.

Suspended under said opening II, by brackets l2', I2, at each end are two channel members, as I3, I3, open toward each other, as seen in Fig. 3, and mounted to run back and forth in and between these channel members is a carrier member I4, having wheels, as I5, I5, to run in said channels, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3.

Secured to the under side of this carrier member i is a tubular member I6, interiorly threaded and provided with handles I1, I1, for turning it in its support I8. Operating through said carrier member I4 and through said tubular member I6 is a rack I9, having a channel 2S in one side, to receive a tongue 2| on said carrier member I4 to prevent said rack from turning, 'while allowing it to be moved up and down by turning said 1 claim. (o1. 12s-71) 2 tubular member I6, in a manner which will be understood from the showing in Fig. 1.

On the upper end of said rack, is a supporting Y, designated 22, and in which is supported a massaging wheel or roller 23 having in the present showing two soft iiexible members, as 24, 24, which is shown to operate up through said openis a motor 25, whose drive shaft is connected with al. gear reduction case 26, having a crank 21 on 4the outer side thereof, connected by means of a link'. 23, with the lower end of a lever 29, pivotally supported on a rigid bracket 36 secured in the corner of said cabinet, as shown.

`The upper end lof said lever 29 has a link 3I connected therewith and extended to and connected with the upper end of a lever 32, pivotally supported at 32' on a frame member 33.

The lower end of said lever 32 is adjustably connected with the lower end of the lever 32, as at 34, and is secured in place or adjustment by a set screw 35. The opposite end of said member 3d has pivotally connected with it, as at 36, a curved operating rod or member 31, the opposite end of |which is adjustably connected in a bracket 33, on the underside of the end of said carrier member I4, as illustrated at 39, with a set screw 40 for securing said connection. Through this connection said carrier member and massaging wheel are moved back and forth by the motor, according to the adjustment on the lever 32 of the operating member 31,

Also connected with the upper end of the lever 29, is a second link, as 4I, the end of which is connected to an angle member 42', on which is secured a tubular member 43, extending out through the end wall of the cabinet, as shown at 43. Operating in said tubular member 43 is a telescoping member 44, the outer end of which is connected with a depending nger 45, from a cross bar 48, the opposite ends of which carry two channel members or blocks, as 41, 41, Iwith clamp plates, as 48, 43, therein and with set screws 49, 49, for tightening said clamp plates 48, 48, on the two ends of said two straps, as 50, 50, shown in section therein.

The inner end of the telescoping member 44 is forked to straddle the end of the angle member 42, as seen in section in Fig. 2, and as indicated in light broken lines in Fig. 1. This telescoping member is not secured to the angle member 42, but is free when said angle member 42 is moved. to the right to follow by relaxation of the body of the patient, but when said angle member is moved to the left, it pushes said telescoping member 44 and its connection through the parts 45, 46 and 41 to put tension on the straps 50.

Each of said straps 5l] is bifurcated at its end, as at 5|, and has secured thereto an ankle strap, as 52, adapted to be. secured' around the ankle of the perso-n receiving the treatment, as1ind cated in Figs. 1 and 3, by lacing. Through these ankle straps, as shown, stretching is intermit-- tently applied to the limbs of the. patient, aswll be understood from the foregoing description;

Mounted on the head end ci"tlreltalzvle:top\1l is a neck rest or member 53, held on a. plate; 54;.

having an zip-standing flange or rib 55 interitting. with said neck rest, and having its opposite sidesA turned under the opposite edges 0f the table: topf` 1, as seen in Fig. 4.

- Also mounted on. said plate 54 is.- anead band 'at S3', the piston of. which` operates ina cylinder 64 adjustably; supported in abracket, 65,. andf provided on its underside with `teeth. 64:7', to meshy witha gearl 65,011.31 shaft 61, heldin a bracketY 68 and the. side wall 3; ofthe cabinet, ast at 69,'

Fig. 4,'which1 also shows a lockv nut 1U on said shaft 61, and an'- operatingv head' 1|., said cylilrf der having a pressure tube 12.` connecter therewithland connected with a pressure guage-1.3, enthe side of the cabinet; as'shown.

Thus, we have provided a tableY mechanism. on

which the human bod'ycan lie and' which mechaf invention, and we do not, therefore, limit our invention to the showing made except as we may be limited by the hereto appended claim.

We. claim:

In.. av massagingA and stretching machine, a

" table. structure having an opening therethrough,

a massaging element operable up through said Opening to engage. the body of a person lying on said'- table, said' element being adjustable vertically, a. motor, operating connections from said motor to said massaging element for oscillating it'. back, and forth, means for attachment to-the feet of said: person, said means being operatively connected with the motor for intermittently pulling: onsaid feet, means for. attachment to the headv of said person for applying pull in the op.- posite direction, from that applied to the, feet, a cylinder with piston operable therein and connected-with-said head pulling means, anda guage connected with said cylinder for indicating the pressure being applied to said stretching means.

ROBERT P. FISHER.. JOHN. B. GEIGER..

REl?EIR-ENC.ES.'r CITED The: following: references are of record inthe @e ofthis'.- patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date.

1,642,158 Kubista --.M Sept. 13, 1.927 2,230,051 Hill Jan. 28, 1941 

